Saturday, 10 July 2010

non-progressive verbs

1 Some verbs are never used in progressive forms.

  • I like this music. (NOT I'm liking this music.)


Other verbs are not used in progressive forms when they have certain meanings.

  • I see what you mean. (NOT I'm seeing what you mean.)

  • I'm seeing the doctor at ten o 'clock.


Many of these 'non-progressive' verbs refer to mental activities (for example know, think, believe).
Some others refer to the senses (for example smell, taste).

2 The most important 'non-progressive' verbs are:

  • like

  • dislike

  • love

  • hate

  • prefer

  • want

  • wish

  • surprise

  • impress

  • please

  • believe

  • feel

  • imagine

  • know

  • mean

  • realize

  • recognize

  • remember

  • suppose

  • think

  • understand

  • hear

  • see

  • smell

  • sound

  • taste

  • weigh ( = 'have weight')

  • belong to

  • contain

  • depend on

  • include

  • matter

  • need

  • owe

  • own

  • possess

  • appear

  • seem

  • be


We often use can with see, hear, feel, taste and smell to give a 'progressive' meaning.

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